GuideRadPROS: Updating the basis of radiation protection dosimetry by harmonization, update and implementation of standards

Purpose: The recent update of the ISO 4037, in conjunction with the new radiation protection quantities introduced in ICRU Report 95, present significant challenges to calibration laboratories and industry. Furthermore, there is a need to address gaps and conflicts between standards that set requirements for photon dosimeters, and to incorporate upcoming and new technologies into standardization. Materials and Methods: The European Partnership Project 23NRM07 GuideRadPROS started in June 2023 and will address these issues in the next three years. The objectives are: • to develop harmonized X-ray spectrometry in accordance with the ISO 4037 standard series, evaluate discrepancies between measured and calculated half value layer of X-ray spectra, and produce data to update requirements for reference X-ray fields. • to develop guidance for the calibration of dosimeters. • to produce guidance on validated procedures for harmonized type testing based on IEC standards. • to assess future standardization needs and to produce a guidance document for the implementation of the new operational quantities of ICRU Report 95 into standards and regulations. • to collaborate with ISO and IEC and users of their dosimetry standards to ensure that project outputs align with their needs. Results: The outcome of this project will lead to improved and comparable procedures in calibration and type testing within Europe. Furthermore, the evaluation of the impact of the ICRU Report 95 quantities will allow for an informed realization of calibration fields. Conclusions: GuideRadPROS will improve the confidence in radiation protection dosimetry, both via the promotion of the implementation of the ISO 4037 standard series, and via the assessment of the impact of the ICRU Report 95 operational quantities on daily measurements in radiation protection.ERPW 2023 - European Radiation Protection Week, 9-13th October 2023, Dublin, Irelan

Octupole correlations in the structure of O2 bands in the N=88 nuclei150Sm Gd

Knowledge of the exact microscopic structure of the 01 + ground state and first excited 02 + state in 150Sm is required to understand the branching of double β decay to these states from 150Nd. The detailed spectroscopy of 150Sm and 152Gd has been studied using (α,xn) reactions and the γ -ray arrays AFRODITE and JUROGAM II. Consistently strong E1 transitions are observed between the excited Kπ = 02 + bands and the lowest negative parity bands in both nuclei. These results are discussed in terms of the possible permanent octupole deformation in the first excited Kπ = 02 + band and also in terms of the “tidal wave” model of Frauendorf.Web of Scienc

Harmonization of IEC type testing requirements and test methods for active area dosimeters in environmental monitoring

Advancements in area monitoring caused by development of environmental monitoring networks which utilise active electronic dosimeters have led to widespread use of active area dosimeters. Currently, there are various sets of requirements for area dosimeters available in IEC standards. A clear distinction is not always made between requirements for area dosimeters used for workplace monitoring and that used for environmental monitoring. Performance testing methods related to the radiation characteristics were examined in a number of standards. Out of this, criteria in terms of relative response limits of variation have been derived for photon energy, angle of incidence and dose rate non-linearity for both dosimeter use cases. Testing of several active area dosimeters which are used for environmental monitoring has been performed in a wide range of photon energy, angle of incidence and dose rate. The collected requirements for environmental and workplace area dosimetry imply that some harmonization of IEC standards for area dosimeters is needed

Improving standardization in radiation protection dosimetry and supporting reference laboratories in the European Partnership Project GuideRadPROS

Introduction Calibration laboratories and industrial enterprises involved in radiation protection dosimetry face significant challenges following the recent update of the ISO 4037 in conjunction with the new radiation protection quantities introduced in ICRU Report 95, the gaps and contradictions in the standards that set photon dosimeter requirements, and the lack of standards for upcoming and new technologies. Methods The European Partnership Project 23NRM07 GuideRadPROS launched in June 2023 will address these issues over the next three years. The project objectives are: 1. to develop harmonized X-ray spectrometry in accordance with the ISO 4037 standard series, evaluate discrepancies between measured and calculated half value layer of X-ray spectra, and produce data to update requirements for reference fields. 2. to develop guidance and training material for the calibration of dosimeters. 3. to produce guidance on validated procedures for harmonized type testing based on IEC standards. 4. to investigate new and upcoming technologies and assess future standardization needs and to produce a guidance document for the implementation of the new operational quantities of ICRU Report 95 into standards and regulations. 5. to collaborate with ISO and IEC and users of their dosimetry standards to ensure that project outputs align with their needs. Results and Conclusions GuideRadPROS will improve the confidence in radiation protection dosimetry, both by promoting the implementation of the ISO 4037 standard series and by assessing the impact of the operational quantities of the ICRU Report 95 on daily measurements in radiation protection. Furthermore, the outcome of this project will lead to improved and comparable procedures in calibration and type testing within EuropeICDA-4 : 4th International Conference on Dosimetry and its Applications : Book of abstracts; October 16-20, Valencia, Spain, 2023Individual Dosimetry and Monitorin

European Metrology Network for Radiation Protection: Education and Training activities

Purpose: The European regulation for protection against exposure to ionizing radiation is essentially laid down in the Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM. The practical implementation of the European basic safety standards has become more complex due to the lack of consideration of the metrological implications and the adaptation to new technological developments. To overcome such a difficulty, a European Metrology Network for Radiation Protection (EMN RP) was stablished in September 2021 to act as a focal point between the metrology communities and the relevant radiation protection stakeholders, including regulators, standardization bodies, manufacturers, users of radiation sources and international organizations. Materials and Methods: In the work package knowledge transfer, the supporting project 19NET03 supportBSS, together with its EMN RP partners, EURADOS and the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), organizes an international training course on dosimetry and emergency preparedness in collaboration with the UK Health and Safety Agency (UK HSA) and the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE) as local host. The course will be held at EEAE in Athens, Greece, from 18 to 21 September 2023. Webpage: http://www.ptb.de/tceurados-wg2-2023 Results: The aim of this course is to provide the theoretical background of dealing with emergencies and to enhance it with practical measurement exercises. The course consists of three days of lectures and discussions combined with one day of practical exercises in small groups of five people. Lecturers from different European institutes will present various topics from different perspectives. Conclusions: This paper evaluates the course content and the feedback from the participants. This course can serve as a basis for further courses that can then be offered by appropriate platforms.ERPW 2023 - European Radiation Protection Week, 9-13th October 2023, Dublin, Irelan

Recoil-decay tagging study of 205Fr

The nucleus 205Fr has been studied through γ -ray and electron spectroscopy using the recoil-decay tagging technique. The resulting level scheme presents a spherical structure built on the 9/2− ground state and a rotational structure on top of a short-lived isomer. The isomer, with a spin and parity of 13/2+ and a half-life of 80(20) ns, de-excites by an M2 transition directly to the 9/2− ground state. Another, longer-lived, isomer, with a half-life of 1.15(4) ms, has also been found and assigned a spin and parity of 1/2+. Transitions populating and de-exciting this isomer have been observed as well.peerReviewe